WAM:Which postcard and story are you taking as inspiration, and why?
NG: I chose two postcards from the story of snow white and the seven dwarves. The first is the post card where snow white receives the apple from the disguised queen and the second where snow white is in the coffin, as a result of this nature. I was first drawn to these pictures because of the artist’s ability to capture movement and silence simultaneously. As I looked into the postcards more intensely I picked up on the idea of Snow’s trusting, if not over-trusting, nature of this ‘old woman.’
Our other theme this year is about incorporating technology into our process and/or our garment. In my work with wearable technology, I have been struggling with the ethical question of how much we can trust corporations and governments with the information provided by putting sensors on our body. These combined as I proceeded toward my final design concept of how we interact with technology and the consequence of over-trusting it.
WAM: How has it felt to adapt an image to an alive, wearable fashion piece?
NG: I started on my path towards apparel and wearable technology as a mixed media artist so this opportunity has been an amazing way for me to combine my passions. Being able to see this project as an art piece and not just an outfit has been challenging moving across my process. That being said I feel like this opportunity has helped me grow in my ability of abstracting what it is to design and create. Moving from mixed media that was for the most part flat, to something wearable has also been a good experience because of how much more structural work needs to go into the piece of art as well as how the user will wear it.
